Hou Hsiao-hsien's film starts shooting in Wudang

The shooting ceremony of the martial arts masterpiece Nie Yinniang, developed for several years by Hou Hsiao-hsien, a famous Taiwan director, was held in Zixiao Gong (Purple Cloud Temple), Wudang Mountain, on Oct 22.

Director Hou and key actresses, Shu Qi and Zuo Xiaoqing, attended the ceremony. The film will include scenery from Wudang Mountain.

The movie Nie Yinniang is based on the legendary novel, Nie Yinniang, from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). It tells the story of Nie Yinniang, a child stolen by nuns as a child. After studying kung fu, she obeyed the nun's command to go back and assassinate her childhood sweetheart, a regional chief.

According to Shu, she will play the violent female assassin Nie Yinniang in the film. In order to establish a chivalrous image, in spite of her small stature, she underwent special training and hanging wire exercises 10 days before shooting.

In order to realize his first martial arts dream, Hou Hsiao-hsien has spent 7 years preparing the film.

Hou sought out many scenic areas in Hubei as early as March 2012. After visiting several outdoor areas, Wudang Mountain was finally chosen as a shooting location.

In addition, the film will shoot in Taiwan and Japan. The film has a total investment of 90 million yuan ($14.4 million), half from Taiwan and the rest from the mainland. It will finish shooting in early 2013.